Automated meshing with selection recipes and template files

In Pre/Post, you can use selection recipes together with template files to automate many of the tasks required to create a finite element model, such as meshing. Selection recipes link the geometry in the CAD file to the instructions in a FEM, assembly FEM, or Simulation template file that controls how the software creates the FE model.

For example, when you create a FEM file and specify a template file, the software automatically:

• Uses the selection recipes in the template to select geometry that meets the specified criteria.

• Creates mesh controls and generates meshes using the parameters in the template file.

• Generates universal connections between components based on the information in the template file.

When you create a Simulation file and specify a template, the software automatically:

• Uses the selection recipes in the template to select geometry that meets the specified criteria.

• Creates boundary conditions using the parameters in the template file.

You can then solve the Simulation file.

Tip:

If the software stores information about a command in the Simulation Navigator and updates the results of the command when the geometry changes, you can use that command for template-based automation.

When you use selection recipes and template files together, the software generates meshes and connections automatically during the creation of the FEM file

Example template-based automation process for meshing

1. Tag the CAD geometry with the appropriate information that you will need to later select it with selection recipes. Use the Properties command to assign names or attributes to part entities, such as faces or edges. For example, you can specify:User attributes on a sheet body to define the size of the mesh.User attributes to define the locations of connections, such as bolts.

2. Create a template FEM file. For CAE applications, template files contain the settings and the FE modeling definitions that you need to define an analysis. You can use any existing part file as a template file, including FEM, assembly FEM, and Simulation files.For template-based automation, the template contains the appropriate instructions for how to create the mesh based on the tags in the CAD model, such as:Selection recipes that select the appropriate geometry in the part file. You can create selection recipes based on entity names, attributes, or colors. You can also use the wildcard (*) character to create a selection recipe. For example, to select all named entities in a file, create a selection recipe where the Value for the Name attribute is set to *****.Note: You cannot use selection recipe Strategy options, such as Proximity, that require you to select geometry interactively with template-based automation.Mesh definitions that reference the appropriate selection recipes. These mesh definitions specify the overall mesh density and all mesh parameters.Mesh control definitions that reference the appropriate selection recipes that define local mesh densities.

3. Add the new template file to the .pax file so you can select it in the New dialog box. The .pax file is an XML file that defines the FEM and Simulation file templates that the software loads automatically. You can customize .pax files by editing the XML content with a text editor to add entries that point to your own custom template FEM and Simulation files. For more information, see Add a custom template file to a .pax file for CAE applications.

Learn more

Meshing

Add a custom template file to a .pax file for CAE applications

Creating Mesh Points to force node locations

Remeshing existing 2D meshes

Surface coat of 2D elements

Local refinement for 2D meshes

Refining a mesh using field data

Meshing for crash analysis

Edge Separation Condition

Merging meshes

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Automated meshing with selection recipes and template files, Simcenter 3D 2021.1 Series

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